39. Jackson and brother Tito were best men at Liza Minnelli and David Gest’s wedding.

40. Jackson’s performance during the 1993 SuperBowl half-time show drew the largest TV audience in American history.

41. The directors of Jackson’s videos have included Martin Scorsese, John Singleton and John Landis.

42. In 1999 Jackson paid $1.5 (#810,000) for the 1939 Best Picture Oscar, which was presented to producer David O. Selznick for Gone With The Wind.

43. Jackson appeared on a postage stamp in the Virgin Islands in the mid-1980s after locals voted him the superstar they’d most like to honour.

44. An extensive 1997 survey declared Jackson was the Most Famous Person in the World.

45. Jackson helped plan neighbour Gregory Peck’s funeral.

46. Jackson once described close friend Elizabeth Taylor as “a warm cuddly blanket that I love to snuggle up to and cover myself with.”

47. Jackson provided a voiceover on The Simpsons – but it remained a secret for 12 years. He voiced a character in a mental institution in the Stark Raving Dad episode, which aired in 1991, but, because of a contractual problem, Jackson had to be credited as John Jay Smith. His contribution to the classic cartoon series remained a rumour among fans until The Simpsons creator Matt Groening confirmed it really was Jackson when the episode was released on DVD in 2003.

48. Jackson shares the same birthday as U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who turns 72 today. Other celebrities who share Jackson’s birthday include moviemakers Sir Richard Attenborough and William Friedkin, and actresses Rebecca DeMornay and Carla Gugino.

49. Jackson’s comeback plans have been scuppered by a new online poll – 71 per cent of 59,000 people voting on website PopEater.com answered `Not a chance’ to the question ‘Can the King of Pop make a comeback?’

50. Michael Jackson and the number 7 (courtesy of TMZ):

— Michael Jackson signed his will on 7/7/02. — Michael Jackson’s memorial was on 7/7/09…exactly 7 years after the will was signed. — Michael Jackson’s two biggest hits — “Black & White” and “Billie Jean” — were each #1 for 7 weeks. — Michael Jackson’s three biggest albums — “Thriller,” “Bad” and “Dangerous” — each produced 7 top 40 hits. — Michael Jackson was born in 1958 … 19 + 58 = 77 — Michael Jackson died on the 25th … 2 + 5 = 7 — Michael Jackson has 7 letters in his first and last name.